JOE DURKIN, Class of 1996

Joe Durkin
Class of 1996
Inducted in 2014

Displaying a set of skills relevant to two disparate athletic activities, Joseph B. Durkin carved his name into the annals of Lowell High School sports and beyond, in addition to achieving honors in the classroom.

As a member of the Lowell High School Swim team Joe was a four-year (1993-1996) varsity performer and four-time Merrimack Valley Conference All-Conference selection. Joe was a member of Lowell’s school-record setting 200-yd. medley relay team and team MVP as a junior (1995). As a senior (1996) Joe was the Raiders ‘ team Captain and received the Coaches ‘ Award. Throughout his swimming career Joe won multiple Lowell Sun All-Star honors.

As a member of Coach George Cunha’s Lowell High Baseball squads, Joe was one of the catalysts of a three-year run that saw the Red and Gray compile an overall record of 49-16 en route to three consecutive appearances in the Eastern Massachusetts Division I State Tournament.

As a sophomore (1994) Joe batted .369 and received Lowell’s Coaches’ Award as the Red and Gray finished the season with a 15-6 record.

During his junior season (1995) Joe batted .293 and had a team-high 20 walks (5th on the all-time LHS list). Lowell finished 9-4 and Joe was named to the MVC All-Conference team.

Joe closed out his LHS career with an outstanding senior season. He led the Raiders in at bats (77), hits (31) and triples (4), the latter 9th on the all-time LHS seasonal list. Joe batted .403 and even gained a victory in his only decision as a pitcher. Joe was team co-MVP and once again an MVC All-Conference selection and 1st team Lowell Sun All-Star.

Joe’s name can be found in a host of categories in the Lowell High School Baseball Record Book, including top 10 rankings in career hits, doubles, and RBI.
In addition Joe was selected for the TOP Baseball Invitational Showcase in both 1995-1996.

A well-rounded individual, Joe was a Lowell High School Honor student in 1995-1996 and was listed in the publication Who’s Who in American High School
Students in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

After graduation Joe matriculated a Boston College where he received three varsity letters as a member of the Eagles Baseball team.

Perhaps the greatest thrill of Joe’s playing career as the fact that one of his teammates both at Lowell High School (swimming and baseball) and at Boston College was his younger brother Brian, whom he joins tonight in the Lowell High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Joe also joins LHS teammates Dan Graham and Garrett Gillick in the Hall of Fame.

 

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